Double-walled tank and discharge fitting therefor



Aug. 29, 1950 E. A. SWENSON DOUBLE-WALLED TANK AND DISCHARGE FITTING THEREFOR Filed May 10, 1947 Inven of Eric A.Swenson mZ I Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOUBLE-WALLET) TANK AND DISCHARGE FITTING THEREFOR 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a flush tank or equivalent container made of heat-conducting material such as metal or porcelain. In tanks of this kind, the contents are drained with each use and the tank is at once automatically refilled. In warm humid weather, the tap water which flows into the tank is usually considerably cooler than the atmosphere. The cooling of the tank wall often results in condensation of atmospheric moisture on outer surfaces of the tank to such an extent that the condensate drips from the tank. It is an object of the invention to prevent such condensation on the outermost surfaces of a tank by making the tank with a double wall and providing for the drainage of any condensate which may form on the inner wall. According to the invention, I provide an improved and novel fitting through which the contents of the tank can be discharged and which also has passageways for the escape of any condensate which may form on the inner wall of the tank.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description thereof, and to the drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tank embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of the tank taken in a horizontal plane.

Figure 1 illustrates a flush tank, such as is commonly used in flushing water closets. The tank illustrated comprises a double wall consisting of an inner receptacle H1 surrounded by an outer receptacle 5?, these receptacles being maintained by suitable spacing elements M in spaced relation with an interspace I6 between the side walls and bottoms of the receptacles. The spacing elements 14 may be blocks or strips of rubber or other equivalent material. Thick washers i5 may also be used with fastening bolts for the same purpose.

Projecting through the bottoms of both of the receptacles is a discharge fitting 26 which is tubular in form with a large central passage 22 for the discharge of water from the interior of the tank. The discharge member 2%] is made with a valve seat 26 at its upper end to receive a ball or cone valve 26 which is supported by a stem 28 in the customary manner. Below the upper end of the member 26 is a radial flange til which is adapted to bear on the inner surface of the bottom of the inner receptacle iii a suitable gasket or washer 32 of rubber or the like being employed between the flange 30 and the-bottom of the receptacle iii to prevent leakage around the member 25. lhe lower end portion of the member 2% is screw threaded as at 34 to receive a nut 36 which bears against the outer surface of the bottom of the outer receptacle !2 so as to secure the fitting in place. A rubber gasket or washer 38 is employed between the nut 36 and the bottom of the outer receptacle [2.

Between the upper end of the fitting 2B and the flange 3i is a lateral projection 40 which has an auxiliary passage 52. This projection 46 is made with attachment means consisting of a short neck M which projects upward and is interiorly screw threaded to receive the lower end of an overflow pipe '56. In case the water in the tank rises above the top of the pipe 46, the excess overflows into the pipe and is discharged through the auxiliary passage 42 into the central passage 22 below the valve 26.

Since atmospheric moisture is apt to condense on the outer surface of the inner receptacle lil when the latter is cooled below the surrounding air temperature on warm days, condensate gathers and flows down that surface into the lower portion of the interspace it between the bottoms of the receptacles. In order to provide for the escape of such condensate, one or more drain conduits 50 are formed in the wall of the lower portion of the member 2!). In Figures 2 and 3, two such drain conduits are shown. These conduits extend from lateral orifices in the outer surface of the portion of the member 26 which is between the bottoms of the receptacles down to the lower end of the member 23. As shown in Figure 2, notches 52 are formed in the side walls of the member 29 within the interspace H5, each notch 52 communicating with a small drain conduit 59 so that condensate within the interspace it can escape through the notches 52 and the drain conduits 5!) down through the lower end of the member 2!).

The lower portion of the member 2i! is made with walls or wall portions of sufiicient thickness to contain the conduits 53 separate from the central passage 22. The upper portion of the member 29 may have thinner walls as indicated in Figure 2, the central passage 22 being shown as flaring upward to some degree from about the midpoint of the member 20.

The tank is supported by any desired means which may include bolts 69 passing through the bottoms of the receptacles and being secured to the top 62 of a water closet seat. Suitable connections (not shown) may be attached to the threaded portion 34 of the discharge fitting 20 3 to connect the tank to the water closet bowl (not shown).

It may be noted that various modifications and changes in details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A double-walled tank consisting of two nested receptacles and means holding said receptacles together in spaced relation with an interspace between the bottoms and side walls thereof, in combination with a discharge outlet fitting comprising a tubular member extending through the bottoms of said receptacles, said member having a central passage therethrough and a valve seat at its upper end, a radial flange on said member below said upper end adapted to seat on the inner surface of the inner receptacle, and a nut screw-threaded on the lower portion of said member to engage against the outer surface of the outer receptacle, said member having a drain conduit in the wall of said member opening out through the exterior surface of the member at a point within said interspace and extending down to the lower end of the member.

2. A discharge fitting for a double-wall flush tank with an interspace between the bottom and side walls thereof, said fitting comprising a tubular member having a central passage therethrough and a valve seat in its upper end, a lateral projection near the upper end of said member having an auxiliary passage therein communicating with said central passage, said projection having connecting means to receive an overflow pipe, an exterior radial flange on said member below said projection, and an exterior screw thread on the lower portion of said member, said member having a notch in the outer surface thereof substantially spaced below the level of the bottom face of said flange and adapted for direct communication with said interspace between the bottom of said tank and a conduit in the wall of the member extending from said notch to the lower end thereof.

ERIC A. SWENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 830,243 Magowan Sept. 4, 19.06 940,951 Bailey Nov. 23, 1909 963,738 Bailey July 12, 1-910 1,146,558 Fenton July 13, 1915 1,310,497 Keenan July 22, 1919 1,430,571 Leslie Oct. 3, 1922 1,989,859 Heller l Feb. 5, 1935 

